The bolts are tight it has leaked since I bought it but I'm getting closer to priming and painting only have the rearend and axel left so I would like to fix it.

Is it possile to split the axel housing from the rearend slide it far enough out to replace the gasket? With out have to take off the wheel. I don't have a jack big enough to hold it up.So I was going to use the wheels as the jack.

I could slide the the hub out farther to give me more room.

Anyone ever done this? Is the housing holding anything inside other than oil? Whats going to fall out? I've never been inside a rearend before.

Not what you want to hear. You will need a jack to support the M under the tranny case. That housing provides support for the tractor, which is the reason it is so heavy and if you unbolt it, the tractor will sag on that side, damaging the bearing, and maybe breaking the axle, possibly endign up laying on it's side..

Ok so it took me a few years but have finnally gotten the axle leak fixed .Heres some pictures of the project . One thing to keep in mind if you do this is to have plenty of lifting power and blocks.I had a huge floor jack, cherry picker and overhead hoist/crane .

top plate removed looking into rear end. The one bolt painted yellow holds the gear on.

Everything from engine back had to be pulled off .In order to remove top plate and to take one bolt out of bull gear.

Axle removed

My helper over seeing the repairs .

Axle out

The hardest part other than the wieght of things was getting axle splined back into the gear.

BTW also replaced the clutch I was in a warm(borrowed) shop so sue me ...lol